Austin’s progressive and artsy vibe make town excellent for LGBTIQ+ vacationers and is each welcoming and crammed with tons of nice meals, occasions, and nightlife.
Austin is a bizarre place. It’s a university city and a hippie outpost, however it’s additionally a booming metropolis and the capital of Texas. It’s a metropolis of contrasts and dichotomies. It’s massive, but small; it’s crammed with high-paying tech jobs, but additionally artists and creatives; and it’s an extremely liberal and progressive city… in the midst of Texas.
The perfect LGBTIQ+ bars and golf equipment in Austin
One of many coolest issues about Austin is that its primary LGBTIQ+ scene is concentrated downtown on South 4th Road. This makes it extremely enjoyable and simple to bar hop from place to put all through the evening.
Throughout my go to to town, my pal stated he’d set me up with a information. He claimed this information was somebody who knew Austin inside and outside, and that they had been excited to indicate me a superb time. Little did I do know that my information for the night can be certainly one of Austin’s most distinguished drag queens, Vylette Ward.
Ward needed to indicate me round 4th Road, and our first cease was the bar the place she started her drag profession, Oilcan Harry’s. Ward stated that is certainly one of Austin’s oldest homosexual bars and has been round for over 25 years. It’s recognized for its varied drag reveals that happen all through the week. From karaoke nights to expertise contests and extra, drag queens and kings host a wide range of reveals and occasions each evening of the week.
After we arrived, the bar was doing its 9pm early present, which tends to be made up of newer queens. Ward whispered into my ear that early-evening reveals like this are how they break into the scene, giving them an area to hone their expertise and solidify their on-stage persona. Regardless of a smaller crowd than the later present attracts, the viewers was loving each minute of it. Each loss of life drop, sashay, and wig reveal was met with roaring applause from the gang.
Later within the evening, we headed to Rain on 4th, which is conveniently positioned subsequent door. With a crowded dance flooring, nice DJs, an out of doors patio, and weekly events, Rain is Austin’s favourite spot to bop the evening away. Naturally, Ward knew nearly each bartender, DJ, and patron on the membership, and was greeted by virtually everybody we handed.
Usually, I don’t get pleasure from dancing at golf equipment, however Rain had such an superior vibe and big selection of music that I couldn’t resist. A blue highlight glittered off a disco ball, sending little prisms of glowing gentle across the dance flooring. Whereas they did play typical homosexual membership music like Ariana Grande, in addition they performed some awesomely sudden songs, like a remix of “Candy Desires (Are Fabricated from This)”, and at one level, even “Seven Nation Military” by The White Stripes.
Rock music at a homosexual membership? I beloved it, and the entire crowd appeared to adore it too. All of us bounced in rhythm with the tune’s well-known guitar riff, and lots of (myself included) began singing alongside. One thing about that second felt so particular and uniquely Austin. It isn’t fairly often that you just get to listen to music in homosexual golf equipment that isn’t pop, dance, or trance.
Many of the motion on South 4th takes place on one block positioned between Lavaca and Colorado streets. On prime of Oilcan Harry’s and Rain, there’s additionally Neon Grotto and Highland Lounge, simply to call just a few. Ubers line up alongside the curb, associates hug earlier than heading inside, and teams meander from membership to membership, giving the sidewalks a lifetime of their very own.
However Austin’s queer scene goes past simply South 4th Road. One of many metropolis’s hottest (and welcoming) nightspots is Cheer Up Charlie’s. The bar is thought for attracting and welcoming everybody from the LGBTIQ+ spectrum, serving as a gathering place for homosexual males and the lesbian group, in addition to trans and nonbinary individuals.
The bar describes itself as “Vegan + Queer” and retains Austin’s trademark counter-culture vibes alive. From nice cocktails to rotating DJs and musical visitors, Cheer Up Charlie’s is ideal for anybody who feels they don’t align with the mainstream vibes of most LGBTIQ+ bars and golf equipment.
Glorious LGBTIQ+ areas past the golf equipment
Austin has rather more than simply LGBTIQ+ nightlife, and no house proves that higher than Halcyon. Situated on South 4th Road among the many golf equipment and bars, Halcyon is a espresso store by day and a soothing lounge at evening. All through the morning and afternoon, you’ll be able to order espresso and tea, in addition to some improbable sandwiches and salads.
My private favourite was their hen pesto sandwich, which will get warmed in a panini press and comes full with sundried tomatoes and provolone cheese. I sat on Halcyon’s coated patio that faces 4th Road. It’s the proper spot to drink one thing chilly on a scorching Texas afternoon, and the people-watching is improbable. Austin attracts an enormous variety of bachelor and bachelorette events, so there are all the time teams of individuals, normally a bit tipsy, strolling down the streets or peddling alongside on a celebration bike.
With a mostly-queer employees, it’s a relaxed and welcoming house for individuals who wish to discover group with out having to hit up a bar. Halcyon additionally places on weekly occasions from afternoon drag brunch, to stay music performances and extra.
Situated on South Congress, within the coronary heart of Austin’s stylish SoCo neighborhood, is the campy and funky (and tremendous queer-friendly) Austin Motel. Decked out with neon lighting, retro-style furnishings, and a large Satisfaction flag within the foyer window, the Austin Motel is a unusual and thrilling lodging possibility. Better of all, even visitors who aren’t staying on the motel can buy day passes to the property’s Fifties-inspired outside pool and lounge space.
For different lodging choices, Marriott is an LGBTIQ+ inclusive model that has expressively dedicated itself to welcoming the group. The corporate has three improbable properties in downtown Austin, all full with rooftop swimming pools, together with the Marriott, JW Marriott, and the W, which places by itself month-to-month themed drag brunch (typically hosted by my new pal, Vylette Ward).
Barbecue is certainly one of Austin’s oldest culinary traditions and town is known for joints like Franklin BBQ and Terry Black’s. However a relative newcomer to the competitors, la Barbecue, has rapidly change into certainly one of Austin’s favorites. It’s additionally been a gamechanger to the principally male-dominated BBQ trade. Owned by wives LeAnn Mueller and Alison Clem, this feminine and LGBTIQ-led barbecue joint has solidified itself as probably the greatest eating places in all the metropolis.
For these with a candy tooth, Wunderkeks is a gay-owned cookie firm helmed by husbands Luis Gramajo and Hans Schrei. It ships nationally and has change into well-known for its legion of movie star followers, together with Busy Phillips, Tori Spelling, and Dan Reynolds of Think about Dragons. Locals often knock on the door of Wunderkek’s kitchen to strike up conversations and fill up on cookies and brownies.
Find out how to discover the LGBTIQ+ group
There are tons of wonderful methods for LGBTIQ+ guests and locals alike to discover a sense of group in Austin. BookWoman is Austin’s native feminist bookstore that, in recent times, has actually embraced tales of intersectionality and has since change into a welcoming house for queer girls. Except for promoting books, BookWoman additionally hosts weekly occasions together with poetry readings, audio system, and open mic nights.
The Little Gay Shop sells tons of enjoyable and distinctive items and items, all created by the LGBTIQ+ group. From stickers to candles, books, magazines, and extra, the store is loaded with tons of improbable finds.
The Little Homosexual Store additionally sells espresso and has an out of doors seating space. I beloved this addition to the shop as a result of it encourages individuals to seize a drink and mingle. For anybody trying to store, you will discover all the things from t-shirts that learn “Hope won’t ever be silent” to drawings that say “Y’all means all”. I laughed once I noticed their assortment of bumper stickers, all of which have cheeky messages like “Sorry, Homosexual Driver”. To assist construct group, The Little Homosexual Store additionally hosts occasions like queer trivia and ebook membership meetups.
For many who get pleasure from a superb dose of competitors, head over to The Iron Bear, Austin’s native bear bar. They host a weekly Geeks Who Drink pub trivia occasion, going down each Thursday. It’s a superb strategy to meet new individuals, discover a workforce, and luxuriate in some lighthearted competitors.
Save the date: Austin’s finest LGBTIQ+ occasions
Austin all the time has one thing occurring, however LGBTIQ+ vacationers will likely be particularly concerned with visiting town throughout Austin Pride, which usually takes place each summer time. Different occasions of curiosity embody South by Southwest (SXSW), Austin’s annual leisure and tech competition that, within the final decade, has boomed into an enormous, globally-attended occasion. SXSW usually takes place in early spring.
Additionally of curiosity is the well-known Austin City Limits music competition, which takes place yearly every autumn. The competition not solely attracts guests from all over the world but additionally queer musicians reminiscent of Lil Naz X and SZA.
What LGBTIQ+ vacationers have to know earlier than going to Austin
Whereas Austin is extraordinarily progressive, it’s vital to recollect that you’re nonetheless in Texas, a state that’s actively working to take rights away from LGBTIQ+ individuals. Luckily, you’re unlikely to come across any subject whereas in Austin because of its younger, progressive inhabitants and its city-level organizations that assist present the sources that Texas doesn’t on a state stage. In truth, town of Austin might be one of the vital liberal, progressive, and queer-friendly cities in all the nation.
On a broader word, Austin is experiencing just a few rising pains. Town has grown extremely quick over the past decade and has change into America’s Eleventh-largest metropolis. With such fast progress, site visitors generally is a downside as town hasn’t but been capable of assemble a large-scale transit community. Fortunately, for these staying close to town middle, it’s extremely walkable and electrical scooters are straightforward to search out on nearly each nook.
Sources and data for LGBTIQ+ guests
Do512 is an superior Austin-centric web site that has its personal LGBTQ webpage that lists day by day queer occasions going down all through town, from comedy reveals to viewing events.
Another sources which are value wanting into earlier than visiting embody Austin’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, which can assist you uncover queer-owned companies, and Vivent Health, town’s primary LGBTQ well being supplier and group group that places on occasions and can assist with discovering entry to PEP and PrEP, even for guests.
